Economic minister unveils growth plans for Simcoe and Muskoka

Some changes on a map should mean more growth and jobs for the area could be in the works after a provincial government announcement in Barrie, Friday.

Minister of Economic Trade and Employment Dr. Eric Hoskins unveiled plans at Barrie City Hall for an expansion of the boundaries of the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SODF) and the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF).

Those changes mean that Barrie and the rest of Simcoe County, as well as the District of Muskoka, will be eligible to apply for government money earmarked for creating jobs and growth.

"Businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities in the two regions can now apply to receive support for projects that will create jobs, encourage innovation and attract investment to their local communities," Hoskins said.

Eligible sectors include advanced manufacturing, processing, life sciences, information and community technology, tourism and cultural industries.

"So far, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and the Eastern Ontario Development Fund have created and retained more than 27,700 jobs," he said.

Hoskins said the province has committed more than $88 million in regional support to the two funds, leveraging at total investment of more than $837 million.

"Today's announcement is good news for Barrie and all the communities that make up Simcoe County," Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman said. "The Ontario government's support will now be available in a new way to help our local economies innovate and grow.

"We have a number of programs we've been working on and this is an opportunity for us to apply for funding."

Finally being a part of the SODF is welcome news, he added.

"We didn't think of ourselves as part of the southwest (area of funding). We were surprised we didn't fit in the basket," he said.

Hoskins said the government originally drew up the geographical boundaries for the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund after discussions with stakeholders.

"The government set boundaries that were as broad as possible at the time," Hoskins said. "But since then we have heard loud and clear from municipal leaders like Mayor Lehman, as well as from leaders like Mayor (Graydon) Smith in Bracebridge and across Muskoka.

"We heard that these regions face similar economic challenges as other municipalities that are already included in the northern, eastern and southwestern Ontario regional funds."

Simcoe County Ward Cal Patterson said the SODF money would encourage innovation and attract investment.

"Not only will this help the county's more than 16,000 businesses increase productivity, our communities will be better equipped, allowing them to be competitive and create local jobs," he said. "From plastics to glass manufacturing and pharmaceuticals to aggregate resources, the county's economic base is diverse and growing, and today's announcement will go a long way to ensuring this trend continues."

Source: Barrie Examiner

Residents of a Burton Avenue trailer park who received eviction notices on July 31 are being encouraged to not give up hope.

Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman encourages them to attend Sept. 23 council meeting

Residents of a Burton Avenue trailer park who received eviction notices on July 31 are being encouraged to not give up hope.

Approximately half of the 225 residents from the trailer park at 196 Burton Ave. attended a meeting at Unity Christian High School, Wednesday night, to discuss their options.

The city has received a rezoning and subdivision plan application for the land for 96 street townhouses with the possibility of 20 walk-up units in a maximum three-storey building.

Ward 8 Coun. Arif Khan, Mayor Jeff Lehman and Simcoe County director of social housing Cathy Kytayko listened to concerns and answered questions from the residents, many of whom are worried the investments in their mobile homes will be greatly reduced or lost altogether.

Dino Melchior, of Melchior Management, has been managing the park for 15 years and said the owners previously turned down several offers to sell the land.

Earlier this year, the option to redevelop the land and evict 86 homeowners was made by the numbered Ontario company Melchior represents.

Melchior told the Examiner recently that he and his associate have forwarded several local mobile-home vacancies to the tenants, as well as looking for a trailer mover to take on the large project and offer a volume discount.

“The removal is strictly the responsibility of the tenants,” Melchior said at the time, adding with the $3,000 cost mandated by the Residential Tenancies Act per unit, they're already spending $270,000 to help the tenants move.

Lehman has stated the the city does not have the power to intervene in a landlord-tenant matter.

But during Wednesday's meeting, he told park residents to keep an open mind and consider all their options.

"We don't have a solution, not yet, and the solutions won't be the same for everyone," Lehman told the crowd. "We need to understand your concerns. The reason we are here is because we want to help. We're morally obligated to help.

"We didn't evict you, but we are here to help you," he added.

Khan told the residents at the beginning of the meeting, "it's going to be emotional and we expect that. You are residents of the city and taxpayers in the city. Your concerns are not falling on deaf ears.

"We get it loud and clear that you don't want to move. We'll assist in any way we're allowed to."

Jim Mallyon, who moved into the trailer park with his wife in June 2012, believes he was misled by the property owners.

"Prior to buying our trailer we asked how long the park was going to there. We were told 25 or 30 years and that it wasn't a problem," he told the panel. "Right now I'm looking for a place to move to. I can't afford to just sit here. It will cost $10,000 to $20,000 to move my unit, depending where I can get it moved to."

Park resident Fleur Ottaway runs the Burton Avenue Mobile Home Owners Coalition and said she believes the trailer park tenants should be allowed to stay, adding the development has yet to be approved.

"The evictions aren't valid until there is an approved plan. The city shouldn't approve (the application)," she said.

Mandy Hillyard, a longtime poverty advocate in Barrie and the county, suggested the residents contact the Community Legal Clinic Simcoe/Haliburton/Kawartha Lakes.

"I don't want to see anyone homeless. There is an answer and the answer is in this room," she told the crowd. "This has been a real good start. There is so much emotion behind everything you're saying.

"I don't want you leave here frustrated, I want you leave here hopeful."

Lehman encouraged residents to attend a Sept. 23 council meeting where the applicant will make his application and members of the public will be able to express their views. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

He also encouraged them to submit their concerns in writing by contacting the planning departments will their opinions will become of the record regarding the application.

Source: Barrie Examiner

Buying Real Estate In Innisfil? Better read this!

INNISFIL - Hundreds of Innisfil residents will be on the hook for septic inspections.

Some residents are not pleased with the town’s new septic re-inspection program, which was introduced during a recent meeting in Lefroy.

Director of development Don Eastwood was quick to explain the program is provincially mandated.

“This really was not dreamed up in town council,” he said during the meeting. “It wasn’t our choice to have to ramp up a program (and) hire on new staff. Frankly, it’s not everyone’s idea of fun to have your septic system inspected.”

Although the program is required by the province, the government is offering no financial support, which is why the town has decided to make it user-pay and charge each homeowner $129.90 for the inspection. The new re-inspection regulations fall under the Ontario Building Code and give municipalities five years to comply.

The goal is to identify septic systems that could pose a hazard to health and to municipal drinking water systems, and to ensure remediation.

Eastwood told those who attended the meeting that the town has identified more than 1,200 septic systems that fit the criteria — the bulk of them along the Lake Simcoe shoreline, either south of Lefroy or north of Alcona — which will need to be inspected by Jan. 1, 2016.

“It’s going to take us a couple of years to get 1,200 properties inspected,” Eastwood said, explaining that what is planned is a visual inspection only, looking for signs of problems which could include excessive vegetation, odours, liquid discharge, algal growth and “squishy soil.”

Only if problems are found would there be a second inspection and potentially a requirement to repair or replace the system.

“The municipality has the ability to issue an order to ensure those things are corrected,” Eastwood said.

Those residents within the septic re-inspection zones must bring in proof that their septic beds have been pumped out within the past year, provide a drawing showing the position of the system in relation to buildings, wells and property lines, and book the inspection as well as providing payment.

Although there are hundreds of septic systems affected south of Lefroy, only approximately 25 residents attended the meeting and most were not happy with the new program.

Resident Mark Thibedeau told Eastwood that he had installed a new septic system in 2012 at a cost of $20,000.

“I put it in in October (and) haven’t used it and now you’re asking me to get another inspection done?” he asked.

Eastwood was quick to assure residents that systems installed or inspected within the past year would be exempt.

“What’s the penalty for not complying?” demanded another resident.

“It’s going to cost you more than $129.90,” said Eastwood, referring to possible court action.

“Not necessarily,” retorted the resident, blaming both town council and external factors, including the Holland Marsh, for the pollution of Lake Simcoe. “Maybe we should be electing people willing to challenge the government. Go after the people who are polluting Cook’s Bay.”

Eastwood again explained that the province is demanding the re-inspections.

“We really have no choice but to comply,” he said, adding the penalties to the town and to taxpayers for non-compliance would be significant.

There was also resistance to the requirement to have septic beds pumped out within a year.

Property owners argued that those practising good septic-bed care, or using their properties only seasonally, might not need to have their beds or tanks pumped out at a cost of hundreds of dollars.

Eastwood said the goal was to have all systems showing that they had been recently pumped out but acknowledged there may be exceptions.

“We’re prepared to look at exceptions,” he said.

Mayor Barb Baguley and other members of council attended the meeting, and came in for a share of criticism, particularly over the cost of the inspections.

“We don’t have sidewalks, we don’t have sewers. Why do we have to pay that?” a Gilford woman asked of the inspections. “Why should we pay more? You have casino money.”

There were questions over the inspection of holding tanks, tertiary systems that are already inspected annually by a third-party, and even which homes fall within the inspection boundary.

“The one-size-fits-all is a lie, just like panty hose,” Baguley said, adding there should be room for exceptions. “These kinds of one-offs are not the typical situation. There is some flexibility and judgment.”

Thibedeau suggested that the exceptions should be posted on the town website. “That’ll save a lot of phone calls.”

The re-inspection program is another step in a process that was initiated by the Walkerton tainted water-system disaster in an effort to ensure clean drinking water, a process that has also resulted in the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and Source Water Protection Plans.

The province is requiring municipalities to carry out inspections of all on-site sewage systems within 100 metres of Lake Simcoe and other water bodies that drain into the lake, or that are within identified vulnerable areas near municipal wells.

The meeting ended with informal discussions, as residents spoke with inspectors Andrew Quattrociocchi and Ed Yohanna, other town staff, and politicians.

Eastwood said the goal was to present the program, listen to comments and reassure residents that “common sense will prevail.”

For more information, contact program administrator Terry Joyce at 705-436-3710, ext. 3540, or tjoyce@innisfil.ca, or inspectors Ed Yohanna at ext. 3544 or Andrew Quattrociocchi at ext. 3542.

Information packages are also available at the town.

Originally posted Barrie Examiner

Barrie: Residents get official notice to vacate Barrie trailer park

This is where I'm torn. Encourage progress and Development but these people also need affordable housing. Where can they go?

Here's the news article posted in Today's Barrie Examiner.

Frank and Gail Ruffolo have called their 14x55-foot trailer on Burton Avenue in Barrie their home since 2005. The couple and their neighbours now have one year to leave after receiving their eviction notices. The land the park sits on is being redeveloped. MARK WANZEL PHOTO

A large pink hydrangea bush blooms in the tiny little plot of land leased by one of the tenants of the Burton Avenue trailer park who received their eviction notice July 31.

“Where can we go? We don’t know where to go or the cost of moving to where we could go,” Gail Ruffolo said.

As she spoke, thunder rolled across the sky, unintentionally underscoring the fear the seniors felt when considering their eviction notice.

In out of the rain, Ruffolo and her husband proudly showed their mobile home, with its hardwood flooring and decorative wooden moulding Frank designed to border the ceiling.

He’s added foam for insulation under the trailer, in addition to the skirt he wrapped around the base of the trailer where the wheels — if there were any — would be. The Ruffolos are living on a pension after Frank fractured his back, he said.

“I can’t work. And I know these (other tenants) people can’t afford a dime to move. If they’re willing to move the trailer at their expense, fine. But how can the owners do something like this?” he asked.

Dino Melchior, of Melchior Management, who has been managing the park at 196 Burton Ave., for 15 years said the owners previously turned down several offers to sell the land.

“I know they’ve put off this decision several times,” Melchior said. “For the owners, it’s been the most difficult decision of all.”

Yet, the option to redevelop the land and evict 86 homeowners was made by the numbered Ontario company Melchior represents earlier this year.

To date, the city has received a rezoning and subdivision plan application to build 116 townhouses, along with medium-density residential units at 196 Burton, where as many as 225 people live in trailer homes.

At that time, Melchior said if the land is redeveloped, all tenants with land leases will get one year’s notice to vacate and be compensated $3,000 for mobile-home removal, per the Residential Tenancies Act.

The tenants received that letter July 31.

Melchior, and his associate Ender Joseph, said they have gone above and beyond their management responsibilities and forwarded several local mobile home vacancies to the tenants, as well as are looking for a trailer mover to take on the large project and offer a volume discount, instead of having each tenant work out their own more expensive deal to move their units.

“The removal is strictly the responsibility of the tenants,” said Melchior, adding with the $3,000 cost mandated by the Act per unit, they’re already spending $270,000 to help the tenants move.

But tenant Fleur Ottaway, who’s running a grassroots organization going under the name Burton Avenue Mobile Home Owners Coalition, said several other trailer parks in the area only have limited space; not nearly enough to take all 86 homes.

At Hoe Doe Valley, you have to buy the land, she said, and in Angus and Orillia, they only have a few spots available.

“Ours is a pre-fab home, it’s going to cost more than $3,000 to move it,” Ottaway said, explaining the Act was written to help out mobile trailer owners in the early 1990s and prices have sky-rocketed since then.

Ottaway said she’s been quoted about $12,000 to have her home moved, which won’t include any add-ons such as decks, foyers or rooms tenants have added over the years.

“The industry has evolved, but the Act hasn’t,” she said. “Everyone is really upset because the law isn’t really there for us.”

Mayor Jeff Lehman and Coun. Arif Khan say they aren’t taking the news lightly.

“It’s my understanding that the city does not have the power to intervene in a landlord-tenant matter, ie. to delay or prevent an eviction,” Lehman wrote in an e-mail.

“Given that the residents have been given eviction notices, my focus is therefore to assist them in finding an alternative place to live.”

Lehman notes that wait-lists for social housing are long and may not be an immediate answer for the mobile homeowners.

“City council, including myself, must sit in independent judgment of the planning application, and I will do that. But that aside, these residents are my residents, so I am going to do what I can to help them,” Lehman said.

Khan said he, too, contacted the County of Simcoe regarding social housing availabilities, and has approached senior levels of government for an increase in levels of social funding, but has yet to hear back.

He has also agreed to meet with the mobile homeowners and Simcoe County staff next week to explore viable options.

But he points out that the provincial Residential Tenancies Act offers the right of every landowner to file an application to rezone or develop their property in accordance with the Planning Act.

“I don’t blame those who don’t care to differentiate between municipal and provincial jurisdiction. At the same time, from an unemotional perspective, I completely support the property owners’ right to file their application,” Khan wrote in an e-mail.

Khan and Lehman are scheduled to meet with the Burton Avenue tenants Aug. 14 at Unity Christian High School at 25 Burton Ave. at 5 p.m. to discuss their options.

By Cheryl Browne, Barrie Examiner

How High is Too High in Barrie?

Open house this week to look a construction policies for tall buildings

In a maze of pipes, rods and scaffolding, construction workers continue their progress on the lower-level parking structure of the Collier Centre as the structure begins to take shape downtown. MARK WANZEL PHOTO

• 
  

How high should Barrie’s buildings get?

That’s the question city residents can help answer at Wednesday’s open house meeting on the proposed policies for tall buildings.

These policies are to provide city council, developers and residents with guidance and direction for assessing the merits of applications for tall buildings, including their design, location and orientation.

Buildings as high as 15 storeys are allowed now, but that restriction dates back to 1989 and might no longer reflect Barrie’s city centre’s designation as an Urban Growth Centre by the province, which means encouraging more residential and office growth in the downtown.

City staff have indicate that virtually every major condominium project in the city centre has been granted an exception to the height bylaw: Grand Harbour, Waterview, Nautica, Watercrest, Bayshore Landing and Marina Bay I and II.

These buildings exceed the height bylaw, anywhere from five metres in Marina Bay’s case to 18 metres, or about six storeys, in Bayshore Landing’s case.

The current height bylaw gives council control over the design of the buildings. For example, the city got greater setbacks above the fifth floor for the new Watercrest building on Maple Avenue, resulting in a more attractive building and one which casts a smaller shadow.

Many residents of Bayshore Landing, which got an exemption from the height bylaw, however, have told council they didn’t want any new building across from them to be any taller than the 10 storeys set out in the bylaw.

But the advantages of taller buildings include greater densities to support transit, protection of farmland and open space, and higher tax revenue to the city.

Barrie began experiencing tremendous population growth pressures in the late 1980s. This included proposals for several highrise developments, ranging from 10 to 19 storeys, which were well above the the downtown’s three-storey tradition.

At the time, no Official Plan policy or zoning bylaw standards regulated height within the waterfront areas of what’s now the Urban Growth Centre.

A height review study in 1989 helped established height controls and building standards for development in this area.

Wednesday’s open house meeting runs 4-7 p.m. in Huronia Room ‘A’ on Barrie City Hall’s second floor.

City planning staff will present the proposed policies and will be available to answer questions following the presentation.

For more information, or to provide feedback, contact Aslam Shaikh atashaikh@barrie.ca or call 705-739-4220, ext. 4434.

****************************************************************************

The ‘Policies for Tall Buildings’ would be based upon the following guiding principles:

• Prevent adverse building shadows on waterfront amenity areas, on pedestrian-oriented streets, as well as existing and future planned open space areas.

• Foster a pedestrian-oriented environment that encourages street level activity.

• Protect views and access to Barrie’s waterfront.

• Integrate new development within the context of the local urban form.

• Minimize adverse micro-climatic impacts on the streets.

• Retain views of the Algonquin Ridgeline to preserve Barrie’s ‘natural setting’.

• Protect views of major geographical landmarks, buildings and principle viewing areas.

• Contribute to a visually interesting skyline for Barrie.

Source: City of Barrie, Barrie Examiner - Photographer Mark Wanzel

City of Barrie invites applications from citizens who desire to have their names considered for appointment to the North Shore Trail Working Group in a Non-Local Resident Role.

Just posted from City of BARRIE

Interested in being a part of the North Shore Trail Working Group?

August 6, 2013 at 4:27pm

The City of Barrie invites applications from citizens who desire to have their names considered for appointment to the North Shore Trail Working Group in a Non-Local Resident Role. The North Shore Trail Working Group:

• Serves in an advisory role to provide staff with input into the planning and development of the North Shore Trail; and
• Serves as an avenue of communication regarding trail-related issues for trail users, stakeholders and neighbours of the trail.

The City of Barrie is seeking to appoint three (3) citizens for a volunteer term of four years, concurrent with the term of Council. The group will meet at least two times annually, with additional meetings at the discretion of the group, with a potential start date of September 2013.

You must be a resident of Barrie and not an employee of the City or its Agencies or Corporations, nor the spouse, child or parent of a City Councillor or in a conjugal relationship with a City Councillor.You must be from a non-local neighbourhood to the North Shore Trail (i.e. other areas within the city).

Applications are available at the 6th Floor, Barrie City Hall; click here to download.  Please refer to the North Shore Trail Working Group Terms of Reference.

For further information, please visit Barrie.ca/NorthShoreTrail and/or contact Walter Fischer (705-739-4220 Ext. 5101) or Wendy Loevenmark (ext. 4743).

 Personal information received in response to this notice is collected under the authorities of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001.

Applications containing details regarding your interest and applicable experience for the appointment may be directed to the undersigned within the Engineering Department. Please return your completed application to the address noted (in person, by mail, by email or by fax) no later than 4:30pm on Friday August 23, 2013.

Walter Fischer, Supervisor of Parks Planning and Development
Tel.: 705-739-4220, Ext. 5101
Fax: 705-739-4245
Email: wfischer@barrie.ca
The City of Barrie70 Collier Street, P.O. Box 400, L4M 4T5

Did You Know? What's the deal with RE/MAX (Fact Sheet)

RE/MAX Fact Sheet

RE/MAX is Main Street, Not Wall Street.

• Founded in 1973, in Denver, Colo., by Dave and Gail Liniger, who still lead the network today.
• Created by agents, not investors, and focused on raising the standards of professionalism and training.
• An industry innovator always emphasizing training. Among the first to emphasize agents becoming trained to help homeowners facing foreclosure.
• Among the first to give consumers access to all property listings in each multiple listing service, including the competition's.

Nobody Sells More Real Estate than RE/MAX.

• Nearly 90,000 agents in over 85 countries, a greater worldwide presence than any of competitors.
• RE/MAX Associates average more real estate sales experience than other real estate agents.
• RE/MAX leads the industry in professional designations. These denote additional training in working with buyers and sellers with various needs.

RE/MAX is the Most Recognized Name in Real Estate.

• RE/MAX has the largest share of voice in national TV advertising.*
• remax.com is the most visited real estate franchise website with more than 48 million visits annually.**
• When consumers find real estate online, “remax” is the most used search term among real estate brokerages.***
• The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon fleet is the largest corporate balloon fleet in the world.

RE/MAX Agents Give Back to the Community.

• RE/MAX agents have donated more than $115 million to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals since 1992.
• RE/MAX is a national sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series and has partnered with the organization in fighting breast cancer since 2002.
• RE/MAX agents have been recognized for their community service through the National Association of Realtors' Good Neighbor Award program.

RE/MAX is Recognized as An Industry Leader.

• RE/MAX agents outsell those from all other real estate franchises in comparisons of the largest real estate brokerages, most recently in the 2012 REAL Trends 500 report.
• The names of RE/MAX executives frequently appear among those of the industry’s most notable individuals, such as on the Inman News list of Most Influential Real Estate Leaders.
• RE/MAX was named a “Top Military Spouse Friendly Employer” by Military Spouse magazine for five consecutive years, beginning in 2007.
• For four consecutive years, RE/MAX has ranked as the top real estate company in the Franchise Times Top 200 survey.

---

*Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus / A25-54 GRPs Unequivalized for 2011.
**Source: Compete.com, Hitwise, ComScore for 2011.
**Source: Hitwise for 2011.

Buy? Sell? Should Canadians buy into real estate or not? Yahoo Finance Article - with interview Shannon Murree

Interview: Yahoo Finance

Buy? Sell? Should Canadians buy into real estate or not?

It’s either the best of times to buy a house, or the worst of times. A conflicting sea of economic factors doesn’t help matters as on-the-fence Canadians try to decide whether to take the plunge into home ownership.

With prices rising, it may seem like an easy choice to lock in now. But with continued economic uncertainty due to the stagnating American recovery and its effect here, some Canadians are feeling skittish. Is it time to panic or is time currently on Canadians’ side?

“Some Canadian cities are experiencing price increases that seem out of step with consumer affordability,” says Gregory Smith, a partner in Novantas. “But I think it’s inaccurate to say the whole country is experiencing a housing bubble.”

On the plus side, interest rates remain at historic lows. Reduced unemployment — the national rate was down to 7.4 per cent in May — may encourage more Canadians into the market. And when they start looking, they’ll find that prices in most regions still haven’t recovered to their pre-recession highs.

Rising prices, though, are being driven by an influx of money, some of it from foreigners seeking relatively affordable real estate investments abroad. That means the clock is ticking before the window of opportunity closes; a situation that only fuels speculation and fears about waiting too long to buy.

But there’s a dark side that’s giving many Canadians pause before they pick up the phone and call a realtor. Those low-as-can-be interest rates have nowhere to go but up, and despite continued debate over precisely when they’ll begin their one-way trip in that direction, no one disagrees it’s only a matter of time.

Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney says rising rates coupled with record-high levels of household debt and recent moves by the federal government to tighten eligibility for mortgages will all dampen demand for real estate.

“There will be a large section of soon-to-be homeowners who will no longer qualify at higher borrowing costs,” says Smith. “That has a knock-on effect through the rest of the housing market and soon thereafter house prices flatten or decline. I believe that rather than a bubble bursting, we’ll experience a bubble stabilizing or deflating to a more reasonable, natural buoyancy.”

Jobs are another sobering factor. Slowly sinking unemployment rates in most regions of the country mask a more troubling reality: That many Canadians have simply given up looking for work. Even for those who have jobs, employment uncertainty breeds fear that may keep many out of the market.

“The fundamentals of the economy are driven by GDP growth, population growth and employment,” says Addy Saeed, a sales representative with Re/max Active Realty Inc. Brokerage in Toronto. “Canadians are unemployed at a higher rate, which is troubling. But GDP and population growth has been steady, which is bringing new money into the country.”

That new money comes with a cost to Canadians, says Aaron Best, a realtor and property manager with Coronet Realty Ltd. in Vancouver.

“When you have foreign speculators buying here just to ‘park’ money outside of their home country, it skews the market,” he says. “It’s no longer a level playing field.”

But does this mean we’re in a bubble? Likely not.

Michael Drouillard, author of ‘Landlording in Canada,’ cites historical pricing in B.C.’s lower mainland as an example. After prices there increased rapidly and dramatically between 2003 and 2008, the pattern shifted.

“If this were a classic bubble, prices would have rapidly declined afterwards, but they didn’t,” he says. “Prices have been stagnant for a few years and now it looks like they are slowly moving upwards once again.”

Drouillard says “all we need right now is something like an increase in interest rates and that could set us over the edge and cause a decline.”

Regional pricing trends play a significant role, too, but that still doesn’t mean Canada is riding the bubble.

“We feel it’s business as usual in the housing market,” says Terry Loney, sales representative with The Loney Group in London. “We don’t feel there’s a housing bubble due to the fact that the real estate market fluctuates differently in each region across Canada. Certain areas such as Vancouver and Toronto have a shortage of supply with high demand, while other cities have their own regional influences.”

Loney says as rates begin to rise, the market will start to slow down, with prices continuing their steady rise.

Some real estate professionals, like Shannon Murree, a sales representative with RE/MAX Chay Realty Inc, Brokerage in Barrie, say the long-term trajectory of the market is clear, and speculation over whether or not we’re in a bubble does little to change reality.

“So long as the population is growing and people are working, house prices will go up,” she says. “This is especially true in Canada with our conservative practices. And no other investment can offer the returns that real estate can.”

Interested in Development in City of Barrie? Open House *Take Action*

The Planning Services department is hosting an Open House to consider proposed Official Plan Policies for Tall Buildings in the City of Barrie. The proposed policies will provide Council, developers, and members of the public with guidance and direction for assessing the merits of applications for tall buildings, including their design, location, and orientation.

The Policies for Tall Buildings will be based upon the following guiding principles:
1. Prevent adverse building shadows on waterfront amenity areas, on pedestrian oriented streets, as well as existing and future planned open space areas.

2. Foster a pedestrian oriented environment that encourages street level activity.

3. Protect views and access to the City’s waterfront.

4. Integrate new development within the context of the local urban form,

5. Minimize adverse microclimatic impacts on the streets.

6. Retain views of the Algonquin Ridgeline to preserve Barrie’s “natural setting”.

7. Protect views of major geographical landmarks, buildings, and principle viewing areas.

8. Contribute to a visually interesting skyline for the City of Barrie.

Planning staff will present the proposed policies, and will be available to answer questions.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013
4:00pm to 7:00pm
Huronia Room A (2nd Floor)
City Hall, 70 Collier Street

For more information or to provide feedback, please contact Aslam Shaikh: AShaikh@barrie.ca, 705-739-4220 ext. 4434.

Confirm your attendance, if on facebook, by joining here. 

FINALLY! Not an "Energy Audit/Environmental Person" but Hot Water Heater SALESPERSON Charged!

You may or may not know that this is a huge bone of contention for me. For anyone really when these people "prey" on people not knowing any better. How many times have you had them come to your door and asking to see your water or energy bill? NO ONE has the right to that private information. They are SALES people and make money when you lock in to the ridiculous contracts. Owners, landlords, tenants...KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Anyway, below are some tips and here's the news article. One step in this victory

Door-to-door salesman charged

Twenty-one-year-old Ben Parkhurst of Kitchener has been charged with Fail to leave premises when directed, Contrary to the Trespass to Property Act following an incident Tuesday, July 30 in Tillsonburg.

The charge was laid by Oxford OPP after responding to a call on North Street. Police allege investigation revealed a male suspect attending a residence attempting to sell a product refused to leave the property when asked several times by the owner. The suspect was allegedly ‘rude and pushy’ while trying to engage the homeowner in conversation about the environment.

A suspect was subsequently located and charged.

“We receive complaints of salespeople attending homes in Tillsonburg demanding to inspect equipment within the house or to do a demonstration,” said Oxford OPP Inspector Tim Clark. “The tactics employed to make a sale may be extremely high pressured and pushy, aimed at making a sale immediately.

“Although it may be legal, understanding your rights and remaining in control of what is going on in your home is the key to protecting your interests.”

A press release issued by Oxford OPP included the following tips about dealing with salespeople or other uninvited guests:

IT’S YOUR HOME!

You do not have to let a salesperson inside your home and you have every right to ask anyone to leave your property at any time. If they don’t leave, call the police. An unwanted person in your home can be removed, arrested if necessary and charged under the Trespass to Property Act.

WHO ARE YOU DEALING WITH?

If you do not know them, you need to ask questions. Who are these salespeople, companies and brands involved? Have you done any reference checks which could include calling the Better Business Bureau or checking on-line?

Within Tillsonburg and other municipalities, door-to-door salespeople are required to have a municipal sales permit and if requested, to show a potential customer a copy of it. If you have doubts simply do not deal with them and tell them to leave.

DEMONSTRATIONS or INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE ON YOUR TERMS

Find out how long it will take and set a timeframe that works for you. Ask a relative, neighbour or friend to be there. Being alone with a stranger or multiple strangers can make you very vulnerable and you may be buying something or switching to a new company that you really do not want.

KEEP CONTROL

End the session when you want. Take time to think about it and if the salesperson insists otherwise, it may be a sign things are not right. If it’s a good sale today, it will be a good sale tomorrow, so what is the harm in a grace period to think it over. ‘You must act now’ should be a signal this deal may not be what you want.

DON’T BE TOO FREE WITH INFORMATION

There is a chance that in some cases the stranger you are dealing with is “fishing” for information that could be used for illegitimate purposes. Remember, you are there to get information about a product, not to give up information about you and your belongings.

It is important to educate family members and friends, especially if they are seniors who can sometimes be vulnerable to high-pressure sales tactics.

It is your home, you do not have to let strangers inside. If you do not feel comfortable with someone in it, tell them to leave and if they do not leave immediately call the police.

Originally posted Tillsonburg News